The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1887-11-11
POONTHIE'S THANKSGIVING
TURKEY.
BY JOHN HABERTON.

Nobody can have everything
while in this world; it was prob4-
bly, in accordance to this well-known
law that Frank and Hester Grace
", who thought they had the love
llcSt child in the world, had very
little else. Indeed, their al, aside
from their little daughter, seemed
alarmingly little, except ut such
times AS they had to change thelr
abode, and wanted to keep moving
expenses at lowest figures.
But their bare rOOm seemed ex-
quisiteIy furnished when under the
influence OF his P0Onthie. OF course,
the child's name was not as out
landish as here spelled; she had
been christlaned Prndence-partIy,
her father explained, SO there might
be prudence of some kind i'll the
family but the pronunciation OF
the name had been changed by the
child herself, whose Iisping tongue
could not approach any nearer to
the original sounds. She certainly
was "a delightful little witch; her
hair was mass of sunshine, her
her cheeks were full of roses, aud
here eyes were really as much like
viOlets as her mother thanght them.
Her parents were not much older
than sue when they played with
her, " hich one or tue other did most
of tho time when she WAS awake,
80 she was generally fun of smiles
and abounding in quaint speeches,
sneh as are made by most children
who have adults for company.
While Po0nthie's parents were
looking at her, they were the lich-
est couple alive; but when they
were Obliged to look into their
closet or pantry they wondered how
any other couple could be poorer.
They had married solely on love,
and their capital had increased
largely by natural accumulation,
but twas II 1t the sort of thing with
which one would try to buy bread
and butter, or pay Il mllkmau's bill
Frank had fallen in love with Annie
because she was lovely, and Annie
had loved him because he sang
charmiu !ly, composed music for his
own songs, and played OIL the VIC
lin. Their plan had been to live OIL
the proceeds of such songs as Franz
might compose and sell, for had he
not once sold two in single week
and got fifty dollars for themf
But the music publishers had nc
soul for really exquisite songs
Annie said, so for several years th'
little family subststed OH wha
Frank could earn playing the viollI
in the orchestra (so-calledD of Ut
tie theatre in u little city, wher
there were performances two 0
three times "a week. There alway
was enough food for PoOnthie, an'
the pareuts did not starve, bu
sometimes, when they pretende,
they were not very hungry, the.
could not help thinking how dread
ful starvation must be when a neT
approach to it was so shocklngl
dlscOmfOrting.
POOnthie had no snch troubles
however her nearest approach
them was when, one day, she d
verted her attention for one lnstal
from but:ered toast, poached eg
and a mug OF milk, and lisped:
"When | getth to be big fOlkt
will l like water inthtead of mill
am not eat any butter on n
bwead ~
Her parents, after choking Il
tie, and wnngiDg each othe
hands under the table, told her the
hoped not, but POOnthie WI
thoughtful for at least two minute
Then she seemed to recall SOM
thing, aud exclaimed:
"Thay, do you know what
comin' pity sOOe ! | do; its FsnE
givin' Day."
ayes" sighed Frank, with a pit
lag look at his wife. ThauksgiviI
certainly is coming, bat what
you know about il, POonthie p
"Oh, 10th am 10TH. A lit
fgyle down thtairth told me
Iiboutit. Itth the day when nObo'
don't eat muffin but turkey
"Turkey !" echoed Frank IN ira
ical tones.
.sTurkey !" said POonthie, 'yoI
bwing a big turkey home an w
iuss eat, an' eat, t,an' eat till We ca
eat no more" Then POoHtbie
z tackled her egg aud toast aud N
e again, aud her parents looked
= her until something in their es
made them see double and th
3 kept them from seeing at all.
& aIf only we could have a turk
on thanksgiving Day !" said An
& that hight, after POOnthie bad
len asleep. "pm ashamed OF .